3.1 The common regulations for the Bachelor of Science degrees in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi, shall apply. In addition, the applicants with the following minimum qualifications shall be admissible:

Holders of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with mean grade of C+ or equivalent with passes at C plain or above in Biology or Biological Sciences and any one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Agriculture or Geography

Holders of KCSE mean Grade of C- or equivalent plus a Certificate and Diploma in a relevant field from an institution recognized by the Senate.

Holders of ‘O’ level Division II or equivalent with subjects indicated in 3.1.1 above; plus a Diploma in a relevant field from an institution recognized by the Senate

Holders of ‘A’ level with two Principal Passes or equivalent in Biology and any one of the following subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Geography or Mathematics

Holders of KCSE mean Grade of C plain or equivalent plus a Diploma in Biological Sciences or related sciences from an institution recognized by the senate

Holders of a higher national Diploma in Biological Sciences or related sciences from an institution recognized by the Senate.

Holders of a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences or related sciences from an institution recognized by the senate

Equivalent qualifications to the above from institutions recognized by the Senate

The course shall be offered under two modules; full time and through Open, Distance and e-learning (ODeL).

Full time modules

A candidate shall take a minimum of four academic years and a maximum of 8 academic years to complete the course

Each academic year shall consist of two semesters except during the third year of study which will have a third semester

Each semester shall consist of 15 teaching weeks inclusive of teaching and examinations, while the third semester shall be eight weeks

A candidate for B.Sc. Agriculture shall participate and complete course work and practical assignments that may be applicable to the programme. Admission to the examination at the end of the semester shall be based on satisfactory completion of such requirements.

Each candidate shall be required to undertake field practice (attachment) after completion of the second semester of the third year of study. During the field attachment, students are expected to embark on a research project, which they have to complete and present at a seminar during the fourth year of study.

In the third and fourth years of study, each student will be required to take courses in any of the following five majors: Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Crop Protection, Crop Science or Land Resource Management

Majors shall be taken after completion of the second year level courses.

Open, distance and e-learning

The course structure and requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture offered by open, distance and e-learning mode (ODeL) remain the same as under the full time format. However, the model of delivery will involve:

Use of various media and largely home based

Other modes of delivery:

Written self instructional study modules at the registration time including study books, relevant literature, interactive devices and self tests

Limited face-to-face sessions to provide overview of the course at commencement of semester, mid semester and revision period before examinations.

Provision of learner support services

Support study centers at the University of Nairobi

Access to information through computers at the University of Nairobi

Use of libraries at the University of Nairobi and related research institutions.

Orientation (immediately after registration):

Orientation in ODeL delivery

Study, reading and computer skills

Time management and techniques in handling assignments

Mentorship, guidance and counseling

Emphasis in ODeL is use of satellite centers that serve as a link between the university and the students in the following: registration, collecting reading materials, collecting results and programmes, examination information, posting timetable and holding meetings.

The conduct of examinations shall be governed by the following regulations:

1. No candidate shall be permitted to sit an examination unless he/she has satisfactorily attended 70% of the prescribed course of study.

2. For purposes of these regulations, Field Practice (Attachment) shall be deemed to be part of the fourth year.

3. All examination procedures shall be governed by the following:

Each course unit shall be examined out of a total of 100%.

The pass mark in each course examination shall be 40% and graded as follows:

70 - 100% = A

60 - 69% = B

50 - 59% = C

40 - 49% = D

39% and below = FAIL

There shall be special examination(s) for candidates who miss the University examinations provided that such candidates shall, to the satisfaction of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate, provide evidence that they were genuinely unable to sit the examination(s).

Continuous assessment tests (CATs) shall constitute 30%, while the end of semester written examinations shall constitute 70%. The end of semester written examinations in each course shall be a 1 x 2 hour paper.

Field/Industrial attachment will be examined by oral examination and written reports. The grades shall be used in the degree classification. Evaluation of the students while in the field shall constitute 30%, written reports 40% and oral presentations 30%.

The Special Projects and Seminars shall be examined by written reports and presentations and shall be graded for use in the degree classification. The seminars and project proposal shall constitute 30%, the special project report shall constitute 40% and oral presentation shall constitute 30%.

The courses ACP 401 (Diagnostic Studies of Crop Pests) and ACP 402 (Diagnostics of Crop Diseases) shall be examined by laboratory practicals for both CATs and final examination, where CATs constitute 30% but as described under 6.3(d) and final examination shall constitute 70%.

In any academic year, a candidate who fails to attain the pass mark in half or less of the courses offered may, on recommendation of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate, be allowed to sit supplementary examinations in the failed courses to be held at a time to be determined by the Faculty Board of Examiners

Supplementary examinations shall be marked out of 100% but the pass grade shall be reduced to 40%.

A candidate who fails to attain the pass mark in the supplementary examination(s) shall on recommendation of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate be allowed to repeat the year, attend classes in the failed course(s) and take the examination(s) in the failed course(s), provided that the candidate shall pay all the prescribed fees for the respective course(s) and examination(s)

In any academic year, a candidate who fails to attain the pass mark in more than half of the courses offered shall, on recommendation of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate, be allowed to repeat the year, attend classes in the failed course(s) and sit examinations in the failed course(s) at the next University examinations, provided that the candidate shall pay the prescribed fees for respective course(s) and examination(s)

A repeating candidate in any academic year (under clauses 6.3k and 6.3l) who fails to attain the pass mark in any of the failed courses shall, on recommendation of the Faculty Board and approval by Senate, be discontinued from the degree programme.

For purposes of evaluation of all supplementary examinations, regulation 6.3j shall apply.

No candidate shall be allowed to register for a course more than twice on academic grounds.

The final degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (specifying the major) shall: -

Be awarded to candidates who have completed and passed examinations in all courses of study including Field Practice/Attachment.

Be based on the average score of all examinations of courses taken in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years of study.

In classifying the degree for each candidate, the Faculty Board of Examiners shall consider the overall mean mark obtained by the candidate, while observing regulation above, and shall apply the principle that a mean score of:

The common regulations governing the credit transfer and exemption of courses in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Nairobi, shall apply:

The credit transfer shall be applicable for candidates from universities or institutions recognized by the Senate of the University of Nairobi

The number of hours, content and grading of course (s) for which credit transfer is sought shall be similar to the degree courses offered at the University of Nairobi.

Only grades of C and above shall be transferred.

Only a maximum of one third (1/3) of the total prescribed courses required for the award of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture can be transferred

Exemptions

A candidate may be exempted from some courses by the Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty Board provided that:

Such a candidate had taken those courses in a recognized University or equivalent institution recognized by the Senate of the University of Nairobi and achieved a pass grade

A candidate seeking such exemptions shall submit a duly completed senate approved form specifying the course(s) for which exemption is desired and attach evidence of 4.2.1 above, showing the contents of what was studied.

Courses specified in 4.2.2 are to satisfy the requirements for the first year of study only. A candidate requiring exemption from 2nd, 3rd or 4th year courses shall in the absence of credit transfer be required to sit university examination(s) and attain at least pass grade, which will then be used in the classification of the degree.

Course units recommended for exemption should not exceed 1/3 of the total courses in the degree programme.

A candidate admitted into 2nd year of study shall be deemed to have already been exempted from 25% of the total courses in the degree programme.

A non-refundable course exemption fee as determined by the University shall be paid with each application for exemption.

In recent times, agricultural production systems have become increasingly more intensive and susceptible to adverse effects of climatic variability and changes in local, regional and global markets. In addition, the local, regional and global food situation is grim due to increased demand and the increasing use of staple food crops as alternative energy sources. There is therefore need for graduates who can effectively generate and promote technologies, strategies and services that enhance agricultural productivity and quality while preserving the environment as envisaged in Kenya’s vision 2030 and the Agricultural Sector Development Strategy. The Bachelor of Science in Agriculture programme is a rigorous and broad-based curriculum designed to produce graduates who through extension, teaching, research, or consultancy will provide technical services in agribusiness, agricultural policy formulation, animal production, crop and land management, and environmental protection.

The first two years of the BSc Agriculture programme will be spent on core courses which will ground the students in agriculture related basic sciences and the fundamentals of the professional agricultural disciplines (i.e. agricultural economics, animal science, crop protection, crop science and soil science). In the third year of study, the students will opt and specialize in any of the following majors: Crop Science, Crop Protection, Land Resource Management, Animal Science and Agricultural Economics). The respective majors will appear on students’ transcripts and degree certificates (e.g. B.Sc. Agriculture-Crop Science major).

2. PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

The programme objective is to produce competent graduates in agricultural sciences and environmental management with adequate knowledge and skills to effectively exploit agricultural research and development opportunities. This objective will be achieved through the majors mentioned below.

2.1 Agricultural Economics Major

The objective of this major is to produce graduates with the knowledge and skills for efficient and sustainable use of agricultural resources. Therefore, students branching into Agricultural Economics Major after two years of general grounding in agriculture will:

Acquire the knowledge of economic disciplines to have an integrated approach to understanding agricultural and environmental problems.

Apply the skills of the discipline in solving agricultural and environmental problems as managers in enterprises that use these resources or in research, extension and education.

2.2 Crop Science Major

The objective of this major is to produce graduates with the knowledge and skills to effectively address all aspects of crop management, crop improvement and postharvest handling. On completion, the Crop Science Major programme graduates will have the competence to:

Contribute to improvement of crop productivity through research, extension and training

Contribute to setting up and running of crop products enterprises.

Promote domestic, urban and institutional landscapes through design, development and maintenance.

Promote environmental conservation.

2.3 Crop Protection Major

The objective of this major is to produce graduates with knowledge and skills to effectively address all aspects of crop protection and integrated pest management. On completion, the Crop Protection Major programme graduates will have the competence to:

Offer advisory services in the design and execution of crop protection strategies

Address all aspects of safe use, handling, disposal and evaluation of pesticides.

Contribute to setting up and running of crop protection enterprises.

2.4 Animal Science Major

The objective of this major is to produce graduates with knowledge and skills to effectively address all aspects of livestock management, livestock improvement and value addition. On completion, the Animal Science Major programme graduates will have the competence to:

Effectively address all aspects of livestock development from a multidisciplinary point of view

Promote sustainable livestock production in all agro-ecological zones

Contribute to setting up and running of livestock products enterprises.

Promote environmental conservation in the livestock sector.

2.5 Land Resource Management Major

The objective of this major is to produce graduates with the knowledge and skills to effectively manage land resources. On completion, the Land Resource Management Major graduates will have the competence to:

Promote sustainable land and water management for increased agricultural production and environmental protection

Contribute to prevention and alleviation of land degradation

Provide leadership in the implementation of the national policies relating to natural resource management

Field/ Industrial Attachment Description .Students will be attached to firms/institutions/organizations/enterprises identified by the department as relevant to/or within animal agriculture sector for hands-on-training. The student will be allocated supervisors identified by the department. The student will be assessed while still on the bench/farm at the attachment practice area and will prepare a report and finally present it orally.

Livestock Production Systems Description .Definition and main characteristics of a system. The structure, function and ecology of animal production systems. Factors determining choice of a system: climate, soils, biological, social, physical and economic. Systems analysis, synthesis and its use in management. A description and classification of agricultural and livestock systems.

Draught, Laboratory And Pet Animals Description .Donkeys in the world. Classification. Domestication and history. Major uses of donkeys in tropics. Adaptive physiology. Nutrient requirements. Feeding in practice. Donkey behaviour. Selection for breeding. Management of reproduction. Shelter. Routine tasks. Harnessing (equipment and use). Power and work output. Training. Horses: principles of selection, breeding, feeding, management. Camels and cattle: use for draught power.Importance in Kenya; Biology of the rabbit; Breeds and strains; Selecting foundation stock; Herd replacement; Site location of rabbitry; Housing and equipment- rabbitry building and cages, feeding and watering equipment; Digestive system and cecotrophy; Nutrition and feeding management (feeding behavior); Nest boxes; Reproduction and breeding; Genetics and improvement; System of breeding; Culling and selection; Record keeping; Kindling; Handling and management; Products (meat and wool production) and marketing; The rabbit industry in Kenya and in the region; Diseases and ailments; Economics of production

Sheep And Goat Production Description .The biology of sheep and goats: genetic diversity, roles and relative economic importance of each in different regions, countries and various production systems. Distributions and production systems in Kenya. Sheep and goat behaviors. Mutton and wool production, flock husbandry (breeding, feeding system, housing and health management). Wool harvesting, grading and processing. Goat meat and milk production: Meat goat breeding, feeding, housing and health management, under different production systems, including intensive systems. Dairy goat breeding, feeding, housing and herd-health management, under different production systems, including intensive systems. Goat meat and milk products and their value.

Animal Breeding Description .Continuous variation, Resemblance between relatives; Genetic parameters; repeatability, heritability and correlation. Prediction of breeding values. Selection: Response to selection, estimation of genetic change, multiple trait selection including correlated response, marker assisted selection. History and development of animal breeding; Special issues in animal breeding including Genotype x Environment interaction and correlation. Mating systems: inbreeding, out breeding etc. heterosis, hybrid vigour; Breeding strategies in different livestock species for various traits; National and International breeding programmes. Breeding goals and their flexibility. Advances and application of biotechnology in the genetic management of livestock species: AI, embryo manipulations, production and use of clones. Policy, legal and institutional framework in animal breeding practice.

Research Methods And Communicating Science Description .Terms and definitions in research methods; Problem-based research-questions that a research project must answer; Types of experiments and basic experimental and statistical designs in animal sciences; Field surveys, including the breed surveys; Definition and understanding of experimental units under the various designs; Data collection, recording, data-bases and data management. Understanding and analyses of data using various computer programmes (R, Genstat, SAS, etc); Communicating science: reporting of results, Designs of Tables and figures and charts; Scientific presentations (oral and visual)- preparations of oral, poster and written presentations, reports and papers.

Pesticides And Phytosanitory Regulations Description .Pesticides: role of pesticides in pest management, types of formulations, pesticide application techniques, equipment and its calibration, pesticides used in the control of invertebrates, vertebrates, weeds and pathogens, modes of action of pesticides, toxicity and hazards of pesticides, international pesticide residue regulations, safe handling, storage and disposal of pesticides, pesticide legislation and pest control products act.
International conventions. Phytosanitary regulations: guidelines for pest risk analysis, guidelines for surveillance, plant quarantine as related to export trade, export certification process as practiced in Kenya.

Field Attachment Description .The students will be required to develop general and specific questionnaires to help them gather information from farmers, agricultural officers and other extension agents. Crop protection issues should include major crop pests, diseases and weeds associated with the major crops grown in the area, estimation of crop losses due to the pests, diseases and weeds, disease, pest and weed management practices used and their relative efficacy, comparison of crop performance with an

Diagnostic Studies Of Crop Pests Description .Classification, nomenclature and identification of crop pests. Recognition of insects in agriculturally important insect orders. Collection and preservation methods for different groups of crop pests. Field study of insect crop pests.

Plant Mycology And Bacteriology Description .Mycology: morphology, physiology, growth and reproduction of fungi. Classes of fungi of agricultural importance in Kenya. Etiology, epidemiology and control of important fungal diseases of plants.
Bacteriology: morphology, growth, reproduction ecology and spread of plant pathogenic bacterial. Diagnosis of bacterial diseases: symptomatology, biochemical and physiological tests. Classification of plant pathogenic bacteria with emphasis on characteristics of major genera. Etiology and epidemiology of major plant diseases and integrated strategies for their management.

Special Projects And Oral Presentations Description .A student taking the crop protection major will be expected to design a research proposal, collect data on a defined plant pathology, agricultural entomology or weed problem, analyze and present written and oral reports.

Statistics 11: Analysis And Design Of Experiments Description .Introduction to inferential statistics. Sampling distributions, including t-, F and 2. SE and Estimation of parameters, point and interval. Tests of significance. Experimentation and ANOVA, including how to deal with different treatment structures. Further regression and correlation analysis.

Crop Science Field Attachment Description .The students will be required to develop general and specific questionnaires to help them gather information from various sources including farmers, agricultural officer, extension agents, private firms and research institutions. Issues to include land preparation methods, major crops and varieties grown, plant propagation, nutrition, crop protection (pests, diseases and weeds associated with the major crops grown in the area), harvesting and post harvest management. The students will be required to make feasible recommendations for improving crop production in the area. The students will be required to write a field attachment report and present it at a seminar during the fourth year of study

Horticultural Crops Description .Role and importance of horticulture in the Kenya economy. Influence of genetic and environmental factors on the choice and production of various horticultural crops. General principles of crop husbandry of horticultural crops including, choice of growth media, plant propagation by seed and vegetative structures, multiple cropping in horticulture, site selection, planting, fertilizer application, weeding, irrigation, pruning and training, harvesting, and post harvest handling.

Ornamental And Landscape Horticulture Description .The ornamental industry in Kenya; indoors and outdoors cut flower production in Kenya; Marketing of ornamental crops in the export market; Production of ornamental trees, shrubs, vines and ground cover plants for landscape use; identification and growth habits of ornamental plants; practices of nursery management. Various principles and aspects landscape design, choice of plants for the landscape and relevant agronomic and pathological aspects of landscape and ornamental plants.

Field And Laboratory Experimentation Description .Orientation to research in Crops Science. Basic research. Applied research. Mission oriented research. Identification of a research problem. Literature survey. Formulation of a research proposal. Funding agencies. Laboratory and controlled environment: Instrumentation function, calibration, application and maintenance. Field environment: Land: soil, meteorological and topographical factors affecting field results. Common Experimental Designs and Layouts used in Crop.Science research. Data analysis and reports. Project report to be submitted for evaluation.

Special Projects And Seminars Description .A student shall be expected to write a project proposal, collect data on a defined crop science problem, analyze the data, submit a project report and make an oral presentation. The student shall also be expected to attend and prepare reports on seminars organized by the Department of Crop Science.

Firm Accounts And Planning Description .The course concepts and planning techniques necessary for a manager to control and monitor the firm business; including management data, their use, collection, recording and analysis. Problems/difficulties in keeping firm records. Designing and presenting firm accounting systems, including accounting methods and components of firm accounting systems. Firm business; activities of firm business analysis; the balance sheet; the income statement; analysis of the net firm income and returns to capital; labour; management and equity. The need for firm planning, and the planning techniques; enterprise budgeting; partial budgeting; complete budgeting and cash flow budgeting. Program planning and linear programming

Production Economics And Firm Management Description .Production Economics: Meaning, Nature and Scope; Objectives; Framework of Analysis. Production Functions and Profit Maximization: concept of a production function; factor-product relationships; three stages of production functions; the law of diminishing marginal returns; optimum level of input use; production function and technological change. Costs and Returns Analysis and Optimum Production Size: cost concept; categories of costs; cost function; optimum production size; principle of profit maximization; principle of minimum loss; factor and product price changes and production decisions. Factor-factor Relationships: determination of optimum combination of resources; economies of size and their implications for firms. Product-product relationships: various relationships among products; determination of optimum combination of products. Decision making under risk and uncertainty: decision making with less than perfect information; reducing risk and uncertainty; the role of government in reducing risk and uncertainty.

Analysis And Planning Of Agricultural Projects Description .Basic principles of project analysis and investment decisions, measuring project costs and benefits, capital investment decisions, replacement decisions, project life cycle, financial planning, labour and manpower planning, time as a resource in project planning, planning under risk and uncertainty in Kenyan agriculture, some practical considerations in project planning and investment in Kenya:- irrigation and settlement projects in Kenya, investment in social infrastructure, the use of project planning techniques in allocation of government resources for research and development.

Field/industrial Attachment Description .Students will be expected to acquire appropriate practical agricultural economics and resource management skills such as planning, monitoring, evaluation of agricultural enterprises/projects, marketing and trade, policy analysis etc., in agricultural production and marketing enterprises (e.g., export firms, co-operatives), agro-industries, government ministries/corporations and Non-government organizations (NGOs). During field/industrial attachment the students will be expected to pursue and develop further their research projects and collect relevant data for analysis.

Seminars Description .Seminars will cover current issues in agricultural economics and resource management, whereby students will listen to presentations by invited speakers/stakeholders from agriculture and industry. The aim of the seminars is also to prepare students in the art of making presentations.

Intermediate Macroeconomics Description .Key variables of macroeconomics-employment, prices and national income, income determination and the multiplier. Controlling aggregate demand - the determinants of consumption, determinants of investment, consequences of investment, theories and tools of fiscal policy. Money and banking- the nature and history of money, the importance of money, the banking system and the supply of money, monetary policy. The banking system and the supply of money, monetary policy

Agricultural Extension And Technology Transfer Description .Extension theory including aims, purposes and communication in extension; social change including adoption and diffusion of innovations and modernization of peasant farming; Program planning and evaluation; organization and administration of extension systems; Changes in extension organization and administration in Eastern and Central African Region; National Extension Programme NEP, National Agricultural and Livestock Extension Program NALEP and others. Research-Extension linkages and technology transfer. Extension approaches and methods in Kenya; Government programs and policies influencing extension approaches, extension administration and success in Kenya; Cost-effectiveness of technology transfer/extension approaches/methods; Agricultural extension case studies.

Institutional Economics Description .New theories in economic analysis and performance. Basic concepts of institutional and transaction cost economics, institutions and their role in the economy. Institutional change and evolution patterns of economic behaviour and interaction and game theory. Institutional stability vis-

Micro Enterprise Development And Management Description .Micro enterprise theory- role of small business in the economy, characteristics of small businesses and entrepreneurs, causes of small business failure, disadvantages of being small. Getting started- justifying a new business, discovering business opportunities, ways of become a business owner, preparing a business plan, selecting location, providing physical facilities, organizing and staffing the business, financing the business, setting up the records system information access, challenges for the entrepreneur. Applying functions of management in small businesses

Business Taxation Description .Basic concepts and purposes of taxation. Principles of an optima taxation system. The problem of justice in taxation: cost of service or purchase theory, benefit theory; theory of equal sacrifice; ability theory- determination of taxable income gains or profit from business: profit, deduction allowed, deductions not allowed, receipts not considered income for tax purposes, capital allowances or capital deductions, investment allowances. Economic costs of revenues, excise, equity, and externalities, duties and protection; value added tax.

Rural Development Description .Indicators and concepts of development; Causes of growth and development; Capital accumulation; Structure and characteristics of agriculture in developing countries and the role of agriculture in development; The use of planning techniques in rural and regional economics; Rural-urban migration; Regional inequalities, land distribution and utilization; social services and infrastructure; rural-urban poverty and the poverty alleviating strategies in Kenya; The meaning of rural development; Different approaches to rural development: Integrated Rural Development; District Focus for Rapid Rural Development; the concept of participatory rural development; Nutritional problems; managing rural development through designed programs and innovations. The problems of land scarcity and rural unemployment; rural industrialization and employment creation; Development of small- medium scale enterprises in rural areas and the constraints such as poor electrification and other physical infrastructure and communication; Farm and non-farm linkages; Technology and industrial growth, impact of technology on small-scale enterprises; current policy on informal sector and entrepreneurship development with special reference to rural areas and the youth and enterprise support systems in Kenya including NGOs and social networks. The policy framework behind the successful enterprises and transformation/industrialization of the East Asian countries and Israel

Soil Survey And Classification Description .Soil survey: aims and importance of soil surveys; types of soil survey in relation to scale of mapping; methods appropriate for different types of survey; the soil survey report; soil survey in Kenya: current methods and programme; soil classification: types of classification and their value; land capability and irrigation suitability classifications and their practical value; local practical classifications; fundamental taxonomic classifications: United States Soil Taxonomy, FAO system of classification, other East African soil classification systems; the 1:4,000,000 soil map of East Africa; the practical evaluation of soils in relation to agriculture; compiling soil suitability maps for specific purposes or crops; important East African soils: their properties; occurrence, distribution and use: vertisols, ferralsols, nitisols, acrisols, luvisols and andosols; soils in relation to specific crops or types of land use.

Field Attachment Description .Each student taking soil science major will undertake 8 weeks attachment in a farm, district agriculture extension office or a research station. Selection of the attachment station will be biased towards those that have a strong component of soil-related management or research activities.

Land Evaluation For Agricultural Landuse Planning Description .Definition; different types of land evaluation systems: FAO framework for land evaluation, USDA land capability classification system, USBR land classification for irrigation; land evaluation procedure; principles of land evaluation; degree of detail and scale of land evaluation surveys: syntheses, exploratory, reconnaissance, semi-detailed and detailed land evaluation surveys; types of land use: major types of land use and land utilization types; key attributes of land utilization types; land: land mapping units, land use requirements and land qualities; FAO land suitability classification: structure of the land suitability classification - orders, classes, subclasses and units; case studies for both rainfed and irrigated agriculture.

Special Projects And Oral Presentations Description .Each student taking the soil science major will undertake a research project or investigative study in soil-related problem. Under guidance and supervision by an academic staff member, the student will design a research proposal, carry out an experiment in the field and/or in the laboratory and collect data, analyze and write a report. Examination will be on the written report and an oral presentation in a seminar.

Introduction To Agriculture Description .This is an orientation course provides an opportunity for students to learn how the agricultural industry is organized; its major components; the economic importance at the national, regional and global levels; the scope, current status, future needs and types of employment opportunities in the agricultural field. Basic concepts in animal science, crop science, soil science, horticulture, natural resources, agribusiness and range management and agricultural biotechnology are presented. Invited guests

Microeconomics Description .Basic concepts of economics applied to agriculture with special reference to Kenya. Economic systems, scarcity, choice and opportunity costs, the price theory, demand and supply, elements of utility, demand and basic concepts of elasticity, economics of production including production functions and costs of production, market structure, theory of distribution and factor markets, the price system and economic role of government.

Principles Of Animal Production Description .Animal industries in Kenya. Animal production and its contribution to the economy. Animal production systems as affected by ecological factors. Ecological definitions and concepts in relation to animal production systems and their management. The structure, function and ecology of production systems. Basic principles of the management of agricultural ecosystems. The Kenya environment; the major characteristics of the ecological zones of Kenya. The animal environment and livestock structures. Aspects of livestock design. Economics of controlled environment. Animal growth and development of various organs, tissues and fibres. The variation of growth and development of the body

Animal Genetic Resources Description .Biological diversity and its economic importance; The animal genetic resources, domestic animal diversity: Their origins and what they are (global, regional and national perspectives), their roles today and in future; links to environmental sustainability, food security and poverty alleviation; Understanding and characterization of domestic animal genetic diversity (why and how?); Threats to animal genetic diversity, counter initiatives (global, regional and national), value enhancement, sustainable use, including conservation, Conservation methods (their advantages and disadvantages), Policies and institutional frameworks for access to and use of genetic resources and materials, including equity and ownership issues; global, regional and national collaboration, including trans-boundary and cross-border arrangements, conventions, policies and laws.

Pastures And Fodder Production Description .Definition of grassland; contribution of grassland to man. Types of pasture growth and yield. Establishing new pastures. Management of established pastures. Pasture renovation, conservation of excess pasture as hay and silage. Some common pasture grasses and legumes in East Africa. Fodder crops. Pasture seed production. Pasture breeding in East Africa.

Macroeconomics Description .Elements of economics applied to the economy as a whole with emphasis on monetary and fiscal policy problems, specific topics to include: National income accounting, determinants of national income, fiscal policies, introduction to international economics and economic growth.